forcesuch

Forcesuch is a neologism in linguistics that describes a discourse strategy in which the determiner such is used to force a particular interpretation of a referent. By pairing such with adjectives or nouns, a speaker signals that the described property is defining, leaving less room for alternative readings and steering judgment toward a specified category.

Origin and status: The term emerged in informal scholarly discussions during the 2010s and has since appeared in studies of evaluative language and framing. It is not a standard term in reference grammars, and definitions vary among analysts. Some describe forcesuch as a label for when such signals a strong, nearly categorical attribution, while others treat it as a broader heuristic for forceful categorization in discourse.

Usage and examples: Forcesuch language often appears in media, political rhetoric, and opinion writing. Examples include: “That was a forcesuch mistake,” “This is a forcesuch prescription,” or “The report presents a forcesuch analysis.” Critics argue that forcesuch constructions compress nuance and pressure audiences to accept a predefined classification.

Relation to related concepts: Forcesuch overlaps with framing, polarizing language, and the use of evaluative adjectives. It is contrasted with hedging, understatement, and neutral description. Because it is a contested label, analysts emphasize context and speaker intent when identifying forcesuch usage.

See also:

- Framing (communication)

- Evaluative language

- Hedging

- Rhetorical devices